Roberta Aguirre
In 2017, the US, under President Trump, launched a missile strike on the Shayrat airbase in Syria, in retaliation for the Syrian government's use of nerve agents on its own people. This was followed by a two-month bombing campaign against Yemen's Houthi rebels in 2025, which included strikes on Sanaa International Airport. Trump agreed to a truce with the Houthis, ending the campaign, after it became clear that the US was struggling to achieve results and the Houthis had agreed to stop interrupting shipping lanes in the Middle East.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for bombing | To retaliate for the Syrian regime's use of nerve agents on its own people |
| Date | April 2017 |
| Number of missiles launched | 59 cruise missiles |
| Targets destroyed | 44 |
| Targets damaged | 58 |
| Country that ordered the bombing | The United States of America |
| Person who ordered the bombing | President Donald Trump |
| Airbase attacked | Shayrat Airbase |
| Country whose airport was bombed | Syria |
| Group whose targets were bombed | Houthis |
| Country whose military carried out the airstrike | Israel |
| Airport bombed | Sanaa International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's decision to bomb Shayrat airbase in Syria
On 7 April 2017, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea into Syria, targeting the Shayrat Airbase controlled by the Syrian government. This strike was authorised by US President Donald Trump, in response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack that occurred on 4 April. The missile strike was the first unilateral military action by the US targeting the Syrian government during the Syrian Civil War.
Trump stated that it was in the "vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons." The strike was supported by members of Congress, including Paul Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, and Nancy Pelosi. International reactions were mixed, with some countries offering neutral responses and others expressing concern. Trump informed Xi Jinping, China's leader, of the attack, and several countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and Russia, were notified in advance.
The Pentagon spokesman, Capt Jeff Davis, stated that the Shayrat airbase was used to store chemical weapons, and US intelligence assessed that aircraft from the base had dropped bombs filled with a nerve agent on Khan Sheikhoun, killing over 80 people. However, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied ever using chemical weapons. According to US reports, approximately 20 planes were destroyed, and 58 out of 59 missiles severely degraded or destroyed their targets. The US Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, claimed that the strike destroyed about 20% of the Syrian government's operational aircraft and that the base lost the ability to refuel or rearm.
The strike had significant consequences, with seven to nine Syrian soldiers killed, including a general, and nine civilians, including four children, also losing their lives. Russian military personnel were present at the airbase during the attack. The Syrian military reported injuries to their personnel and substantial material damage. The effectiveness of the strike was questioned, with a Russian defence ministry spokesperson stating that only 23 missiles reached the target and that the runway and aircraft were not damaged.
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The US's Tomahawk missile attack in Syria
On the morning of April 7, 2017, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea into Syria, targeting the Shayrat Airbase controlled by the Syrian government. The strike was authorised by US President Donald Trump, in response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack that occurred on April 4. It was the first unilateral military action by the US targeting the Syrian government during the Syrian Civil War.
The Tomahawk missile has been a mainstay of US warfare since it was first used in combat during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. The Tomahawk was also used in the 1998 bombing and 2003 invasion of Iraq, the 2011 Libya military operation, and in 2014 to attack ISIS and the Khorasan group.
The US Department of Defense released video footage of the Tomahawk cruise missiles being launched from a Navy destroyer. The Tomahawk missiles hit aircraft, hardened aircraft shelters, petroleum and logistical storage, ammunition supply bunkers, defense systems, and radars. US reports claimed that approximately 20 planes were destroyed, and that 58 out of the 59 cruise missiles launched "severely degraded or destroyed" their intended target. However, satellite images revealed that the runways and taxiways were undamaged, and combat flights from the attacked airbase resumed on April 7, a few hours after the attack.
The strike received mixed reactions internationally. While the Chinese, Greek, and Swedish governments offered neutral responses, the Indonesian government expressed concern. The Egyptian foreign ministry, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos called for a political solution to the conflict in Syria and dialogue between the US and Russia. Members of Congress were largely supportive, with Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, calling the strike "appropriate and just". However, several protests were held in the US, demonstrating against the attack.
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Trump's truce with Yemen's Houthi rebels
US President Donald Trump's sudden announcement of a truce with Yemen’s Houthi rebels came after a two-month bombing campaign that cost over \$1 billion, with several drones and two fighter jets lost, and no end in sight. The Houthis had moved significant assets to underground bunkers, limiting the offensive's effects, and were still firing at US Navy ships.
The US-Houthi truce sidelined the Israeli government, which was not informed in advance about the deal. The Houthis acknowledged the agreement but said they would continue their attacks on Israel. Senior Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi said that the agreement was "a victory that separates US support for the temporary entity (Israel) and a failure for Netanyahu."
Trump referred to the deal as capitulation from the Houthis, but also said they had a "great capacity to withstand punishment" from repeated US strikes. The Houthis and their supporters spread the news on social media with the hashtag, "#YemenDefeatsAmerica".
The US deal was announced just hours after the Israeli military carried out major strikes against Yemen's international airport and other facilities in response to a Houthi attack on Israel's main airport. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to "defend ourselves alone" against the Houthis.
The Houthis have proven resilient against powerful foes, and Yemen's mountainous terrain is a valuable asset for guerrilla groups facing aerial attacks. The Houthis have adapted to aerial campaigns, hiding key assets or moving them underground. It appears Israel may run out of meaningful targets before the Houthis run out of missiles.
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Israeli military's airstrike on Yemen's main airport
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Israeli military carried out an airstrike on Yemen's main airport in Sanaa, the country's capital. The attack was the second in two days on Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, after the group launched a missile attack near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
The Israeli military warned residents to leave the area around Sanaa International Airport before the attack, which it said targeted Houthi infrastructure, including a cement factory and power stations, and fully disabled the airport. The Israeli military also alleged that the Houthis were using the airport to transfer weapons and operatives.
Three people were killed in the latest Israeli strike, according to Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. An official at Yemen's flag carrier Yemenia Airways said three of its aircraft were destroyed, and the airport's general director announced that all flights to and from the airport have been suspended until further notice.
The Houthis have vowed to respond, describing the Israeli attacks as killing at least seven people and wounding 74 others over two days. Tensions have been high since the Gaza war began and have risen further since the Houthi missile landed near Israel's main airport, prompting Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah port and other targets.
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The US's Operation Rough Rider in Yemen
In March 2025, the Trump administration launched a large-scale military campaign in Yemen, codenamed Operation Rough Rider. The operation was the biggest US military operation in the Middle East during President Donald Trump's second term. It was part of a more aggressive approach by the US to target Houthi infrastructure and leadership and aimed to deter and "disintegrate" the Houthis.
Operation Rough Rider involved airstrikes and naval strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including radar systems, air defences, and launch sites for drones and ballistic missiles. The US targeted sites used by the Houthis to attack commercial ships and naval vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The operation also included the Harry S. Truman and Carl Vinson carrier strike groups, which struck at least 1,000 Houthi targets.
The operation resulted in a high number of civilian casualties, with Houthi and independent organizations reporting an increase in civilian deaths compared to the strikes under the Biden administration. Al Jazeera reported that at least 250 people had been killed by US strikes on the Houthis, and the BBC reported that 68 African migrants were killed in a US strike targeting the Houthis.
The United Kingdom joined the United States in conducting strikes on Houthi targets, marking the first UK strikes during President Trump's second term. The Royal Air Force conducted joint operations with US military forces, targeting buildings in Yemen where Iran-backed Houthi militants produced drones. The strikes were planned to minimize the risk to civilians and non-military infrastructure.
In May 2025, President Trump declared the strikes to be over as a result of a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis, brokered by Oman. The Houthis agreed to stop targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea but asserted that the ceasefire did not include attacking Israel, which had been bombing Yemen.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump ordered the bombing of the Shayrat airbase in Syria in retaliation for the regime of Bashar Assad using nerve agents to attack Syrian citizens.
Trump did not bomb an airport, but rather the Shayrat airbase in Syria. However, there have been instances where airports were bombed during Trump's presidency, such as when the Israeli military carried out an airstrike on Yemen's main airport in Sanaa, and when a Houthi missile landed near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
Initial U.S. reports claimed that approximately 20 planes were destroyed, and 58 out of 59 cruise missiles launched severely degraded or destroyed their intended targets. The U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, later claimed that the strike destroyed about 20% of the Syrian government's operational aircraft and their ability to refuel or rearm aircraft.
The international community's response to the attack was mixed. While members of the U.S. Congress and several countries' governments expressed support or neutral responses, others, such as the Egyptian foreign ministry and the Hungarian Foreign Minister, called for a resolution to the conflict and a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
Yes, Trump announced a halt to the U.S. bombing of Yemen's Houthi group after a nearly two-month-long campaign. This decision was made as part of a handshake agreement, with the Houthis agreeing to stop attacking American ships.
